Update from RCE - KENYA

-by Jeremiah Koshal

(Jeremiah is the former Research Fellow for RCE. He and his wife Ruth returned to Kenya in July 2008 after many years of study and work in the US. Jeremiah operates two kingdom businesses and Ruth is a Regional Director for World Vision Africa.)

Though we’ve been back in Kenya for almost four months now, we’re still in the adjusting mode. It is funny to talk of adjusting in your own country, but that’s a fact we cannot pretend to ignore.

When we arrived at the beginning of July, I was upbeat about implementing all the ideas and projects that I thought would help my community and country. First of all, I already had two kingdom businesses that were on-going with two different partners (Alpha International Consultancy and Go Africa Safaris). I was ambitious about starting a fertilizer import project with AgConcepts (a US-base company) that can help reduce the shortage of fertilizer in this country as well as make the fertilizer more affordable to small farmers. I was also to start the process of building an Ecotourism Community Lodge that will help create employment for hundreds of unemployed young people, and generate income for holistic programs (health care, education, environmental conservation, business development, etc.) in the community.

Further, I was planning to start a Regent MBA cluster as well as start teaching Biblical Entrepreneurship (BE), a biblically based business training for people who want to operate their businesses according to Godly principles. I have gone through the Regent MBA program myself and I’m also a certified BE instructor.

I had the enthusiasm, the passion and the drive to do all these things, but I soon realized that I was setting myself for failure, as there was no way I could undertake all of the above projects while trying to readjust to being here at the same time.

Speaking of adjusting, we’ve had to learn a lot since returning, even in our own country. For instance, ninety-percent of the people don’t keep time, and they are not apologetic about it. There are other issues such as scrambling for just about any service, people not being straightforward because they expect kickbacks, etc. But needless to say, there are also myriad great things here; connecting with family and friends is one of those, plus the feeling that God has us here to try and fix what we think is not working well. So we are honored to be back home, but at the same time we are also challenged to roll up our sleeves and do what we can.

I’m focusing on Go Africa Safaris right now, but I’m also strategizing on all the other projects that I’ve mentioned. With God’s help and with your prayers and support, all these projects and many more will come into fruition.

The Two Trees

by Jason Benedict ⋅ originally published in Momentum Magazine on October 23, 2008 ⋅

In my book Eden Inc. I make the case that the Eden narrative sets the precedent for a global enterprise mandate. That the mandate in Gen 1:26 is to extend the rule (or Kingdom) of God to the ends of the earth. I believe the means for the completion of this mandate is enterprise. Within this construct, the Garden of Eden is not some primordial jungle but rather a functioning agricultural enterprise that was given to Adam and Eve to accomplish a global mission.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:26-28 NIV: emphasis mine)

Genesis is a rich book when it comes to developing a theology of enterprise. We find the mandate, means, mission construct mentioned above, but we also see the introduction of satanic influence into God’s system, the resulting fall, and the introduction of a diabolical alternative to God’s intention for enterprise.

As we have discussed, God’s original intention for enterprise (insert “business” if you like) was for it to be an engine for His global purposes. God was in a very real sense the ultimate entrepreneur, and he brings man in as a partner (a regent) in his operation. This partnership was a covenant relationship that involved Adam having a daily consultation with God. God would consult with man who would then implement God’s purposes in the Earth. Out of this relationship of love, trust, reliance, and obedience blessing flowed into Eden and was supposed to flow into the entire Earth. This relationship was shattered by the introduction of sin and a new order or world system. These two competing systems are paralleled in the two trees of the garden.

The Tree of Life is analogous of covenant relationship with God (more on this later), and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Tree of Knowledge for brevity sake) is about the attempted misappropriation of divine prerogatives. The eating of its fruit represents the inauguration of the kingdom of darkness.

[The serpent said] “…when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5 NIV)

That tree was for God alone, and was off limits to man. It is the “me” tree, it is about controlling your own reality, destiny and outcomes. Conversely, The Tree of Life represents listening, trusting, and obeying. The Tree of Knowledge is about independence, being in charge or being _____ enough (Fill in the blank.).

Branches of the Tree of Knowledge are:

• Intellectualism: being smart enough to control destiny
• Perfectionism: being good enough, beautiful enough or perfect enough…
• Witchcraft: using secret knowledge to manipulate outcomes (I couldn’t think of a phrase with enough in it).
  
• Machiavellianism: Trying to be powerful enough to control destiny.
• Materialism: Being rich enough…
• Vain Religion: Being pious enough…

We are constantly confronted with temptations to live our lives out of the Tree of Knowledge. The world system pulls on us like gravity on a swimmer: To be passive is to be sucked under. Go through the list above and think about the pull that these things exert our lives. I know that they pull on me. Just think of the blizzard of advertising we are each exposed to: you note that these themes predominate.

When I reflect on the times in my life when I was trying to go it alone (or simply slipped into going it alone), I have flashbacks of the fear, anguish, worry and strife associated with those times. If I had to do word association I would come up with PRESSURE. When I think about the times in my life when I have been walking in reliance upon God, the word that comes to mind is PEACE.

An Understanding of the Two Trees Applied to Finances

One of the most common ways that this worldly system manifests itself is in the temptation of riches. This is even evident in the terminology we use. We say things like, “He is independently wealthy,” or “I want financial independence.” The sentiments represented by these statements stem from the world system based on the attempted misappropriation of divine prerogatives. The desire for riches is always condemned in scripture.

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:9,10 NIV

“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income…” Ecclesiastes 5:10 NIV

“You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24 NIV

While the scriptures summarily condemn a wealth motivation, those who desire blessing are commended. Examples are Jabez and Jacob.

"Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request." 1 Chronicles 4:9,10 NIV [emphasis mine].

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Gen 32:24-26 NIV.

To the casual onlooker, blessing and wealth may appear to be essentially the same thing but, there is a marked difference in the motivation behind the two. The concept of riches as we have seen is rooted in independence from God. The concept of blessing is rooted in covenant relationship. For much of my life I thought that if I could just get rich enough I would be able to rest: I could stop worrying and striving to get by, make ends meet, and support my family. I have discovered this kind of thinking is a vain delusion. God does desire for us to be able to rest, but that rest is the rest of relationship and not the rest of riches!

I have always been inspired by the stories of European Jewish families that escaped the Nazi holocaust with little more than their lives: The Third Reich froze their accounts, stole their art, and looted their businesses. Yet many of these families rebuilt their wealth in one generation. Part of the explanation for this is that these families were experts at building human capital, the other part is that though people can steal your goods they cannot steal your blessing. Riches are temporal, but blessing is eternal.

I wish that every Christian family had a strategy to see their passive income surpass their regular expenses. I am just saying that this strategy should be informed and motivated by a desire for covenant blessing and not financial independence.

The principles of covenant blessing are Sunday school simple, yet in their simplicity they somehow elude us:

The blood of Christ has established a new and living way into Relationship with God.
Agree with God and be blessed
Listen to God’s voice and obey.
We are blessed to make us a blessing
God is absolutely unique and everything is ultimately about God.

It is as simple as repent, agree, trust, worship, listen, and obey. It seems to me that many of the Old Testament laws are meant to encourage these basic things. This seems true of the laws governing Old Testament economics: the Sabbath, the Jubilee, tithes and offerings. These laws would seem to have the effect of putting Israel at severe economic disadvantage to their neighbors (competitors).

• You must work one fewer day than your competitors.
• You must tithe 10% of your income rather than reinvest it for growth.
• You cannot accumulate real property much beyond one generation.
• You cannot charge interest to your brethren.

These laws basically give Israel a handicap in all the areas that economists call the factors of production: Land, Labor and Capital. I believe that this is rooted in a supernatural paradigm of covenant blessing that essentially says, “yes these things are handicaps, and they do put us at a competitive disadvantage naturally speaking, but we trust in God and have a covenant with Him and this fact nets us an overwhelming competitive advantage.

Applying this Understanding to the Extension of the Kingdom

Much is being written about Kingdom Business and Business as Misisons these days, and I am excited about this. Nevertheless, we need to make sure that our businesses are realy of the right kingdom. I believe this two trees paradigm is essential to getting our motivations right. As I talk to people that are a part of the Kingdom business movement, I realize that we have some work to do in this area.

From a spiritual warfare perspective we need to make sure we are not ignorant of the enemy’s devices. Missiologists are concerned with animistic syncretism and witchcraft in African, Asian and Latin American Churches, and they should be. Yet, North Americans should be just as concerned about the rampant syncretism in our churches. We have mixed biblical truth with our own brand of materialism and this is just as idolatrous.

It is interesting that in animist, totemistic and polytheistic belief systems there are deities and powers associated with the branches of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In these religions you find false god’s of knowledge, pleasure, materialism, etc. I believe this stems from man’s fallen desire to place his trust in substitutes to a simple relationship with God.

Finally, I think getting this right is key to the Church being able to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

Jason works as a strategist with the Regent Center for Entrepreneurship in Virginia Beach. He serves as a missionary with Calvary International and has written a book on business as mission titled Eden Inc. He is also a contributing editor with Momentum Magazine.

Is God in this Current Crisis?

by Patrice Tsague, RCE Partner

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him" 2 Chronicles 16:9a

Declining stock value, foreclosures, bankruptcies, rising unemployment, etc. The current global economic crisis makes you wonder where God is in all of this. Has God abandoned His creation? Is this the end time?

Whether or not these are the end times, the reality is that God is with us. He is looking for His ambassadors to represent him in these times (2 Chronicles 16:9a). He has entrusted the work of His hands to His people. Psalm 8:6 tells us that we have the legal right and authority to take dominion over His creation. In Genesis we learn about a time in biblical history when the world faced an economic crisis worse than this one, but God had prepared a man named Joseph to respond and take authority over the situation (Genesis 41:57).

Where are the Josephs of our times? Unfortunately, today many of God's people are afraid. They are just as anxious over the current crisis as the heathen. In some cases, the world cannot tell the difference between the children of God and non-believers. Many of God's children have bought into an economic worldview that is worldly and secular. They have blended in with the world; they have lost their savor (see Matthew 5:13).

Biblical history shows that God's people in the marketplace can retain a vital role in preserving the earth in times of crisis:

1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

2. God creates man in His image and His likeness. (Genesis. 1:26)

3. God gives man dominion over His creation. (Genesis 1:26b-28)

4. Man violates God's command. Sin enters God's creation. (Genesis 3:6)

5. God does not take away the gift of dominion from man. (Genesis 3:17-19, Romans 11:29)

6. Two groups now seek to take dominion over the works of God's hand. (Genesis 4:1-5)

• Those who reject God and continue to walk in disobedience to God.
• Those who have repented of their sin and returned back to God.

7. Man develops an economic system to exercise the gift and responsibility of his dominion
mandate. (Psalm 8, Genesis 41:37 - 41)

• Those who reject God are the ones who
  control the macro economy (the overall
  economic system).
• Those who are obedient to God have the opportunity to develop micro economies (how
  we govern our lives, our homes, our businesses and the industries we are a part of) that model God's intent and influence the macro economy.

The current crisis is the result of the failure of believers to influence the macro economy. God is right here with us. His purposes will be done through us, His people, as we reject fear and know that we are here, even in turbulent times, to advance His kingdom.

Spend some time this week renewing your mind to the scriptures that promise God's establishment of your work and well-being, even during crises. Related Scriptures: Psalm 33: 18-19; II Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:5.

Patrice Tsague is the founder of Nehemiah Project International Ministries (NPIM)

Spiritual Convergence

Kingdom Business Blog – October 17th 2008

Update for The Africa Project: Regent Center for Entrepreneurship’s Tom Stansbury visited Opportunity International’s Board of Governors’ meeting in Chicago earlier this month. RCE has begun partnering with Os Hillman of MarketplaceLeaders.org, who sends 160,000 Marketplace Meditations each day to Christians in business worldwide. Dr. John Mulford and Tom Stansbury will be in Dallas October 18th to the 28th networking with Kingdom business leaders and holding an RCE Roundtable event on the 27th. If you are interested in attending, or feel called to give to the Africa Project, contact Skye at the RCE office (rce@regent.edu).

Spiritual Convergence

The Miriam-Webster definition of ‘Converge’ is:
1 : to tend or move toward one point or one another : come together : meet <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meet>
2 : to come together and unite in a common interest or focus

I am amazed at how God moves when what is often referred to as ‘convergence’ happens in a Kingdom leader’s life. When our calling in God; our gifts, abilities, and talents; our past experiences (good and bad); AND an outpouring of the Holy Spirit is released in and through us—when all this ‘comes together and unites’ all at the same time, it’s spiritual convergance. It often happens when we go through a season of difficulty or suffering, sometimes paying the consequences of our own mistakes. It can happen even when we are at the most difficult time it seems ever in our lives. As John Madden would say during a football game, ‘BOOM! – It happens!’ When it seems all is lost and we are just about ready to give up, something breaks in the Spirit, circumstances suddenly change, and victory is achieved!

Did you ever see Band of Brothers? It’s the HBO series based on a story of a group of soldiers in World War 2. There is a point in the war that their group is faced with the most difficult circumstances ever – cold snowy conditions, no food or blankets, the enemy is pounding them to a pulp. After a long series of battles already under their belt they are faced with the darkest and deepest depression probably they ever had faced in their lives – ‘It happens.’ There is a scene in the series when, at the darkest moment, a small victory becomes a ‘turning point’ and all of a sudden the enemy begins to flee. The sky clears. Within a few short hours the Band of Brothers are on their way through Berlin to the Eagles Nest where Hitler had a mountain top villa. They even find themselves drinking some of the finest wines in Europe with probably the deepest sense of fulfillment and wonder how events suddenly turned in their favor – just at the time when all seemed lost.

I am sure the Apostles felt the same way when in the beginning of the book of Acts Jesus tells them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit – that they would receive all power to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth. Here is a ‘Band of Brothers’ who have just been beaten down, their leader killed and all their hopes dashed. Fear had set in and many of them probably felt they had failed miserably. It was, perhaps, the darkest moment in their lives. “Boom – It happens,’ and God intervenes. Convergence happens.

These rag tag apparent ‘losers’ suddenly see thousands of Jews repent and give their lives to Christ after the Holy Spirit falls on them; Peter gets up and now has the courage to stand up and answer the call of God on his life, walking in a new dimension of faith, in a place of victory. It had been days and weeks since he had denied Christ three times and his ‘world’ had come crashing down – now he is boldly proclaiming the Gospel of how Jesus rose from the dead. As this Convergence unfolds, there are a series of divine appointments that ultimately lead to the Gospel going to the ends of the earth, and the future of the entire world is changed forever – by a group of 12 ordinary men who were willing to ‘lose their life in order to gain it.’

This season of uncertainty today in our country – for many of us - is ‘such a time as this,’ as the financial markets are in turmoil and many have lost much of their life savings – some even their livelihood. For many, fear has set in and the worldly system of relying on an ever-increasing debt load to sustain not only our individual lives, but even the entire US economy, appears to be unraveling, unsustainable. Yes, for many, this is a difficult season and a time of turmoil – but let me encourage you, it is not a time to allow fear to set in and go on the defensive. This is a time to go on the offensive and win that small battle in your life, find the ‘turning point’ that will lead to a ‘Boom - It happens’ experience. You begin to walk in a new dimension of faith with divine appointments occurring each day. You deeply know in your gut there is a ‘God in Heaven who sits on the throne and all is well.’

Over the course of the past few years, Spiritual Convergence has begun to happen for me in my own life and walk with the Lord. I overcame some dark moments, hit a ‘turning point’ and have been launched on a great adventure of faith that literally had changed me to the core of my being, knowing how intricately involved the Lord is in my life.

This partnership with RCE and ICCC in The Africa Project and the ICCC Global Trade Center, I believe, is part of a move of the Holy Spirit in the global marketplace central to the Kingdom Business Movement worldwide. I am so grateful that God has allowed me to be a ‘herald’ of this adventure in the marketplace.

As the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Regent’s Center for Entrepreneurship, I am asking each of you to join us on this great adventure of faith. We are on an adventure in God – and through this Kingdom Business Blog I hope to take you on this journey of faith together with us and the team – a ‘Band of Brothers (and sisters – no gender bias here!).’ My heart is that you will begin to see Spiritual Convergence happen in your life as it has happened in my life – and in the lives of those connected to this Kingdom Business Movement we are all called to participate in. I know in my deepest heart of hearts the course of history is being changed.

Strength and Honor,
Tom Stansbury